Topics

1

General Mach Discussion / Basic touch off switch function needed for PCB

« on: June 22, 2007, 02:26:22 PM »

Can’t I just hook up the NEG wire of the ESTOP to the tool head and hold the POS lead to the surface of the COPPER PCB material and move the tool down slow until it triggers an estop then just Backoff 0.0001 or so and zero the machine.

I know there are more elagent ways to do this but I’m having problems with the screen
Interface and I don’t have time to mess with it now! I just need a solution.

Is this not the same thing as a regular touch off switch (using estop insted of prob) ? I can't figure out how to use the probe input like this ?

So what difference does it make anyway ? I dont have time to learn a new programming method.

Thanks

2

General Mach Discussion / Touch Off Plate - DIY Depth Sensor ?

« on: June 20, 2007, 11:50:25 PM »

Hello,

I have a DIY CNC machine running mach3.
I’m new to mach3 and to CNC machines; I’m trying to mill a PCB.
I’m using a 0.015 stub end mill 2 flute

I’m having depth problems, I always cut to deep or two shallow.
I need to cut Z-0.0075  down from Z0 (Z0 = the end mill just touching the top
of the material).

My problem is that I’m breaking my end mills because I can’t set them correctly
down on the material. (I level my work area via 4 screws at the corners)

Should I build and use a touch off plate ? I don’t know what to use.

I’ve heard about some kind of spring loaded depth guard that presses on the material each plunge. Is there a web link, How do I ?

I’m also thinking about adding a DIY vacuum modification.

QUESTION:

Is there anything I can build that will provide realtime feedback of the current depth
so the program can make sure it’s always at Z–0.0075 ?

What other DIY solutions can I use ? I don’t want to spend $$$ on ready made solutions.

What about a pressure sensor ? That way I could do somthing like this ...
   
   if ( getEndMillPSI ( Spindle_POS ( Z ) ) >= dec_to_PSI ( 0.0020 ) )
     {
         set_drill_depth(Z-0.0075);
     }else{

         JOG ( Z, ( Spindle_POS ( Z ) - 0.0001 ) );
    }



HOW can I build a DIY pressure sensor ?

Thanks,

3

General Mach Discussion / How to add 1 to axis movment inline ?

« on: May 04, 2007, 05:17:21 PM »

I got a program SOMTHING like this (SEE BELOW)

I'm trying to route LEVEL my work area.

I must add 1 to Y position and move Y 1 position more each loop
I do ... g00 y[+#1]  (Where #1 = 1 each loop and adds to the current value of Y)

and it's an error on the line.

I got to use a variable in the line position that changes each time I call the routine.

How do I do it ?

Thanks.


--------------------------------------------------
M98 P1001 L11.9844

M30
O10001

M98 P1002 L1
M98 P1003 L1

g00 x0
M99
;-------------------------
O1002
g00 x-1  (only moving 1.0 units)
M99

;-------------------------
O1003
g00 y[+#1]     ; THIS IS AN ERROR HERE HOW DO I DO IT ?
M99

4

General Mach Discussion / New to G-Code, need HLC / tools

« on: May 04, 2007, 03:09:44 PM »

HLC - High Level Control (like a more flexable programming language)

I'm totaly new to G-Code, but I'm a programmer, I need to...

do somthing like this.

10 g00 X0
20 g00 x-11.9844

30 'and here's really what I need
40 g00 y=y+1
50 if y=11.9844 then goto HOME_IT
60 goto 10

:HOME_IT
g00 x0 y0 z0

********************************
It does not need to be exactly like the above code, I just need
a way to use variables, loops and functions.
It would be nice to be able to define constants, and/or macros also.

Like I said I'm totaly new to G-Code. Is there
a tool I can use to do this ? is it built in ?

Where is a tutoral, How do I do it ?

Thanks,

5

General Mach Discussion / Newbe - Calabration advise needed

« on: May 04, 2007, 10:40:23 AM »

Hi,

I’m very new to CNC machines and G-Code programming, I need some advise.
I have completed my first CNC machine. I’m using Mach3 with Xylotex 3-axis driver.

I’m trying to figure out coordinate systems so that I can create/use g-code programs to make parts and stuff (use my machine).

I’m confused about g-code programs and machine calibration in general.

QUESTION #1.

Is it required and normal to always calibrate the machine to the specific g-code program?

For example, I’m having trouble running the Roadrunner program; my machine is always going out of bounds. And I don’t know how to home my machine to the correct starting point so the program will run correctly.

Or is there a general calabration process that will solve all these problems ?
If so, where can I find a clear tutorial on how to do this ?

QUESTION #2

I have limit switches, it looks like some of the X-3.8999 stuff is always going to trigger my limit switches. What do I do. I’m confused.

I have reviewed the setup on my mach3 software, but I’m confused as to the general nature of what is going to be required to calibrate my machine, or as to why I can’t run the roadrunner program (and other programs correctly).

Thanks for helping.

6

G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions / Mach3 G-CODE Size/Scale problem

« on: May 01, 2007, 04:22:12 PM »

I'm designing a PCB board.

I've posted some G-CODE below, it should be moving 11 inches
but it only moves 1/2 inch

Has anyone had this problem ? I've set it to be inches.

What setting do I need to modify ?

Thanks

7

General Mach Discussion / newbe - Xylotex Z-Axis not working - please help.

« on: April 06, 2007, 12:15:52 PM »

Hi,
 
My Z-axis will not work. (X & Y Axis are fine) The motor is good (I tested it and the cable), The Z-Axis does lock the motor up on power up.
 
I'm using mach3 and I have the 425oz/in  Xylotex 3 Axis driver board.

my motor outputs are..

STEP X - Pin 3
DIR X - Pin 2
STEP Y - Pin 5
DIR Y - Pin 4

These work fine, but I can't get the Z to work, what should I do ?

could it be some dumb pins like 22 & 23

Thanks for the help

 

8

General Mach Discussion / Xylotex help needed - newbe

« on: April 04, 2007, 02:41:56 PM »

Hi,

I'm using mach3

I've just setup my Xylotex 3-Axis step motor driver (I'm just trying to get the one Y axis motor moving right now)

The motor seem to be locking up on power up.
I've double checked the step/dir pins as follows

STEP X - Pin 2
DIR X - Pin 3
STEP Y - Pin 4
DIR Y - Pin 5
STEP Z - Pin 6
DIR Z - Pin 7

I have one LPT port on my computer and my step/dir port is set to 1 in mach 3

I really don't know anything as I'm new, here a senerio...

I click the JOG Y+  nothing happens
> I click the JOG Y-  nothing happens
> I click the JOG Y+  It may be moving 1.8deg (1 step)
> I click the JOG Y+  nothing happens etc...
> I click the JOG Y-  nothing happens
> I click the JOG Y+  It may be moving 1.8deg (1 step)

I'm able to reverse this one step movment from Y+ to Y- if I enable the Dir LowActive, however
STEP should be ACTIVE HIGH, and the DIR must be stable 200ns before & after the rising edge
of the step signal. It should also be valid for 2us or more, I know my port address is correct.

I'm really new at this, has anyons got some config files I could copy into the mach 3 dir.

Or advise would be wonderfull.

Thank you everyone, I really need help on this.
mark@landmarku.com

9

General Mach Discussion / Mach 3 Flexibility ?

« on: February 11, 2007, 11:33:55 PM »

I’m new to CNC, I’m building my CNC machine.

One of my motors, is unipolar, the other is bipolar.
I don’t know what driver board and motors I’m going to use/buy or build.
(I found a small Y table that already has a unipolar motor I want to use, and I
have other junk parts all around me)

Can Mach 3 work with ANY parallel step motor driver board setup ?

 As long as I have a board that accepts parallel input/output and will drive my motors
Can I get Mach 3 to work with it ?

Or do I need to select specific parallel step driver board hardware and/or motor types?

What does Mach 3 require ?

Thanks,
(Please dont be offended by my username, I've had it for
ever and it don't mean nothin, it got me free space at hotmail, they were afraid to delete it  )